John Hewson Quotes

After every war someone has to tidy up.

I think they do have to get it right in Sierra Leone. There has to be something in there now to establish confidence, to stabilize the situation, and then to move to some sort of political negotiations.

It is obvious that taking the country from a state of war to being a lawful state won't be easy.

All the aftermath that so frequently follows in the wake of war still confront the nation, and we now, as ever before, must hold fast to the ancient landmarks and see to it that all of these plagues that threaten so mightily shall be rendered harmless.

The concept of military readiness is well understood, but readiness for what happens after the fighting stops is just as important.

Reconstruction requires security and security requires reconstruction.

We want peace and development in all 10 states of South Sudan - we don't want military backing.

Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.

If one seeks to analyze experiences and reactions to the first postwar years, I hope one may say without being accused of bias that it is easier for the victor than for the vanquished to advocate peace.

The thing that really gets to me is that countries are in the news only when things get out of hand. That's when it's newsworthy. When the war ends, it's not newsworthy anymore; no one wants to think about it. Actually, the aftermath is the most important part. It's when people have to rebuild.

To many, peace is what enables development and is critical in providing opportunities to young people. To some - especially those from regions involved in conflict - peacekeeping and efforts to preserve peace are absolutely vital in bringing prosperity and hope for the future.

I think the day you start building the war plan is the day you start beginning the postwar plan.

The problem after a war is the victor. He thinks he has just proved that war and violence will pay. Who will now teach him a lesson?

A war is only as good as the peace that follows.

A war is not won if the defeated enemy has not been turned into a friend.

Americans have learned that it is harder to end wars than it is to begin them

War is just like bush-clearing-the moment you stop, the jungle comes back even thicker, but for a little while you can plant and grow a crop in the ground you have won at such a terrible cost.

We've been in the nation-building business since World War I, and especially since WWII. The goal is not a Jeffersonian Democracy in Afghanistan, but a representative government that respects human rights, protects its own people, and is a friend of the West. These are very realistic - and necessary - goals.

Rwanda has emerged from the devastation of genocide and become more secure and prosperous than anyone had a right to expect.

Afghanistan must never again be a safe haven for terrorism.

The Nobel Peace Prize is a powerful message. A durable peace is not a single achievement, but an environment, a process and a commitment.

The question is, what are we to do in order to consolidate peace on a universal and durable foundation, and what are the essential elements of such a peace?

I was part of a government that tried to resolve the question of Kosovo by war. Perhaps there is some justice that today I should be the person most responsible for finding a peaceful solution.

In the aftermath of any war or genocide, healing and reconciliation are ultimate aspirations.

We were in opposition to the decision to go to war. But after the war happened, it was clear that you could not sit and look-there would be a breeding ground for terrorism or a new collapsed or failed state named Iraq!